Mount Meru Trek 4 days

About Mount Meru

Mt. Meru Is the Second highest mountain in Tanzania located in the heart of Arusha National Park and it is 50 miles west of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Mt. Meru is a massive volcano reaching 4566meters (14,980feet) and offers some of the most spectacular scenery and wildlife diversity of any mountain in Tanzania. Mt. Meru is a challenging trek due to its steepness, but is a great way to acclimatize before attempting Mt. Kilimanjaro. Climbers are accompanied by an armed ranger due to the abundance of wildlife on the lower slopes.

The route to the summit passes through parkland, mountain forest, a giant heather zone and moorland. Finally, the summit is reached by a narrow, barren ridge which provides stunning views of the Ash Cone lying several thousand feet below in the crater and Kilimanjaro in the background.

Over 400 species of birds and animals live on the mountain, including, elephant, buffalo, baboon, warthog, black and white Colobus monkey and duiker. Arusha National Park is described as a ‘gem amongst parks’. The visit to the Ngurdoto crater and Momella lakes, with their superb scenery, flamingos and other wildlife, is an unforgettable.

Mount Meru Trek Summary

DAY 1: MOMELLA GATE TO MIRIAKAMBA HUT

You’ll begin your hike by walking through the forest to the crater floor and then start a steep ascent to Miriakamba Hut with a possible additional walk to the crater floor. After the 1000m ascent and a 10km (5-6 hours) walk, you will reach Miriakamba Hut.

DAY 2: MIRIAKAMBA HUT TO SADDLE HUT

Your trek will begin on a gentle hill. You will turn on a path which steeply climbs through a forest. After crossing several streambeds, you will arrive at the saddle hut at 3570m. You will then ascend 1050m in a 4km (2-4 hours) walk, but you will walk another 2hr to and from Meru peak for acclimatization purposes.

DAY 3: SADDLE HUT TO MERU SUMMIT AND BACK

You will wake up at 2:00 A.M and begin your hike to the top of Mt. Meru. The walk to the summit takes you through a very narrow ridge along the slope of the outer wall of the crater and the sheer cliff of the inner wall. This is one of the most exciting and breathtaking sections of the hike. After a 1000m ascent (about 5km, 4-5 hours walk), you will reach the peak. The walk down to saddle hut is about 2-3 hours long.